TUSCALOOSA | It was like one of those moments you see on the screen, when the coach dramatically turns to the unsuspecting person on the bench or sideline and says, “You’re in.”

That was the start to 18-year-old Caitlin Sullivan’s University of Alabama gymnastics career last Friday at Auburn. When junior All-American Morgan Dennis told coaches that she felt dizzy moments before her beam routine, Sullivan became a last-second replacement just a couple of weeks after graduating early from high school and arriving on the Capstone.

“Oh. Oh, no,” Sullivan said was her first reaction. But then she regained her composure and pulled off the routine without any major gaffes or falls.

“I was very nervous, but in the back of my mind I knew this was my chance,” Sullivan said. “I want to compete, it’s the whole reason I train. I don’t like to train, I like to compete. So when I got up there, I was, ‘You know what, this is my chance to prove to them that I can handle it, I can compete, and that will give me more of a chance for later in the season too.’”

Although the No. 6 Crimson Tide (1-0) probably won’t need to go to that extreme during tonight’s home opener against Kentucky at Coleman Coliseum, Alabama plans to rely heavily on freshmen like Sullivan, Ashley Priess, Geralen Stack-Eaton and Jocelyn Fowler through the first part of the season.

Against Auburn, the Tide had eight of the 24 events performed by freshmen, and 11 by those making their competitive debut with the Tide. Otherwise, senior Brittany Magee and junior Ricki Lebegern were the only points of stability, both representing the team in the all-around.

Although junior Jacqueline Shealy was scheduled to have knee surgery Thursday and has been lost for the season, help is on the way.

Junior Casey Overton is practicing in all four events after having offseason shoulder surgery, as is fellow All-American Kayla Hoffman, a sophomore. Senior Ashley O’Neal is close to being ready, junior Kassi Price could soon complete in another event after being limited to the uneven parallel pars at Auburn, and Dennis is poised to return.

“With our sport what’s different is that once you start to do something again, it’s not that you can do it at a hundred percent level,” Coach Sarah Patterson said. “You have to build up to it.”

Sullivan obviously didn’t have that luxury while trying to adjust to college life. She arrived a week before the spring semester began, and then had to write her classes on her wrist to help her maneuver around campus.

“I knew I was going to graduate early because I had nowhere really to train where I’m from,” said Sullivan, who hails from Ekhart, Ind. “There’s not too many gyms so I was actually training three-and-a-half hours from home.”

Her other option was to go live with her coach in Detroit and train for a year-and-a-half before heading to college. She opted to join Priess, originally from Wheaton, Ill., whom she knew from training in Cincinnati.

“My grandparents are from Alabama,” said Sullivan, a member of the USA National Team in 2003-04. “I know my grandmother always wanted me to come here. It’s something I had in the back of my mind for a while, so when I started looking and Ashley was here, it was a big pull for me.”

Sullivan could be called upon against Kentucky (1-0), along with numerous others. With Alabama sporting a massive roster with 17 names (including Shealy), Patterson plans to take her time bringing the banged up veterans back while seeing what the newcomers can do.

“For us, it’s going to be to go out and hit all our routines again,” Magee said “We can clean up the finer things as the season goes on, small details that we need to work on, and that will come. Right now, we’re just trying to find a good solid lineup on every event.”

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0196.

<p> </p><p>TUSCALOOSA | It was like one of those moments you see on the screen, when the coach dramatically turns to the unsuspecting person on the bench or sideline and says, You’re in.</p><p>That was the start to 18-year-old Caitlin Sullivan’s University of Alabama gymnastics career last Friday at Auburn. When junior All-American Morgan Dennis told coaches that she felt dizzy moments before her beam routine, Sullivan became a last-second replacement just a couple of weeks after graduating early from high school and arriving on the Capstone.</p><p>Oh. Oh, no, Sullivan said was her first reaction. But then she regained her composure and pulled off the routine without any major gaffes or falls.</p><p>I was very nervous, but in the back of my mind I knew this was my chance, Sullivan said. I want to compete, it’s the whole reason I train. I don’t like to train, I like to compete. So when I got up there, I was, You know what, this is my chance to prove to them that I can handle it, I can compete, and that will give me more of a chance for later in the season too.’</p><p>Although the No. 6 Crimson Tide (1-0) probably won’t need to go to that extreme during tonight’s home opener against Kentucky at Coleman Coliseum, Alabama plans to rely heavily on freshmen like Sullivan, Ashley Priess, Geralen Stack-Eaton and Jocelyn Fowler through the first part of the season.</p><p>Against Auburn, the Tide had eight of the 24 events performed by freshmen, and 11 by those making their competitive debut with the Tide. Otherwise, senior Brittany Magee and junior Ricki Lebegern were the only points of stability, both representing the team in the all-around.</p><p>Although junior Jacqueline Shealy was scheduled to have knee surgery Thursday and has been lost for the season, help is on the way. </p><p>Junior Casey Overton is practicing in all four events after having offseason shoulder surgery, as is fellow All-American Kayla Hoffman, a sophomore. Senior Ashley O’Neal is close to being ready, junior Kassi Price could soon complete in another event after being limited to the uneven parallel pars at Auburn, and Dennis is poised to return.</p><p>With our sport what’s different is that once you start to do something again, it’s not that you can do it at a hundred percent level, Coach Sarah Patterson said. You have to build up to it.</p><p>Sullivan obviously didn’t have that luxury while trying to adjust to college life. She arrived a week before the spring semester began, and then had to write her classes on her wrist to help her maneuver around campus. </p><p> I knew I was going to graduate early because I had nowhere really to train where I’m from, said Sullivan, who hails from Ekhart, Ind. There’s not too many gyms so I was actually training three-and-a-half hours from home.</p><p>Her other option was to go live with her coach in Detroit and train for a year-and-a-half before heading to college. She opted to join Priess, originally from Wheaton, Ill., whom she knew from training in Cincinnati. </p><p>My grandparents are from Alabama, said Sullivan, a member of the USA National Team in 2003-04. I know my grandmother always wanted me to come here. It’s something I had in the back of my mind for a while, so when I started looking and Ashley was here, it was a big pull for me.</p><p>Sullivan could be called upon against Kentucky (1-0), along with numerous others. With Alabama sporting a massive roster with 17 names (including Shealy), Patterson plans to take her time bringing the banged up veterans back while seeing what the newcomers can do.</p><p>For us, it’s going to be to go out and hit all our routines again, Magee said We can clean up the finer things as the season goes on, small details that we need to work on, and that will come. Right now, we’re just trying to find a good solid lineup on every event.</p><p> </p><p>Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0196.</p><p> </p><p> </p>